REPORT OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE IPCC BUREAU Geneva, 20 April 2002 (p.

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OPENING OF THE SESSION The Twenty-Sixth Session of the IPCC Bureau was opened by the newly elected IPCC Chair, Dr Pachauri, at 17h00 hours, in Salle I of the International Conference Centre, Geneva, on Saturday April 20, 2002. In his opening remarks, Dr Pachauri pointed out that due to airline commitments of the delegates, the session would need to be brief. The Chair indicated that he would use this meeting to identify issues that needed to be addressed between now and the next Bureau session, and issues to be addressed at the next Bureau session. ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED PRIOR TO THE NEXT BUREAU SESSION The Chair noted that Bureau members should indicate whether they would be interested in participating in the work of the re-formed Communications Group (possibly a Task Group on Communications). Dr Manning (New Zealand) suggested that careful consideration should be given for describing the principles that underpin the IPCC outreach program, and that these be developed at an early stage. Dr Parry (UK) asked that an interim chair be appointed to the TGCIA, and that its Terms of Reference be reviewed before the Twentieth Session of the Panel. The Bureau decided that Dr Richard Moss should be approached by Dr Parry with an offer to become the interim chair of the TGCIA until the next IPCC session (in February, 2003). Dr Meyer (Netherlands) asked that a progress report on the IPCC finances be made available before the next Bureau session. Dr Munasinghe (Sri Lanka) asked that the Secretariat distribute contact details (e-mail and postal addresses) of the new Bureau. Dr van Ypersele (Belgium) asked that the secretariat set up a single e-mail address for the whole Bureau, with automatic re-direction to each Bureau member of any message sent to the address. He also asked that the secretariat prepare a package of documentation for new Bureau members containing details of Bureau procedures and copies of previous Bureau session reports. Finally, he asked that the Chair give special thought to the role the past-Chair, Dr Watson, might play in the IPCC, and that he, Dr Pachauri, discuss his proposals with Dr Watson. Dr Manning and Mr Abu-Laif (Saudi Arabia ) supported this suggestion. Dr Canziani (Argentina) called for early action aimed at enhancing capacity building and technology transfer for the benefit of developing regions. In line with the discussions at the Twenty-fourth session (Wembley, 2001), he also mentioned the need to further develop coordination with UN convention bodies other than the UN FCCC.

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The issue of support for GCOS workshop scheduled for June 2002 (introduced to the Nineteenth Session of the Panel by the then Chair, Dr Watson) was raised by Drs Stone, Canziani and Manning. It was agreed that Dr Stone would liaise with the GCOS Chair to prepare a paper for Bureau members briefly outlining the purpose of the workshop and the rationale for the IPCC providing partial support (CHF 30,000 to 40,000). This paper would then form the basis of an out-of-session decision concerning the offer of support. Dr Hiraishi (Japan) informed the meeting that the Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Inventories would conduct a side-event on the progress of the LULUCF programme at SBSTA-16. He asked about plans for a Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting at SBSTA-16. The issue of the scoping of the work on Climate Change and Development was discussed. It was noted that the decision of the Nineteenth Session of the Panel was that Working Groups II and III would draft a scoping paper. Dr Zillman (Australia) raised the issue of learning from the lessons learnt in the conduct of the elections at the Nineteenth Session of the Panel. He suggested that a paper be drafted documenting the election process and identifying ways to improve the process. ISSUES TO BE ADRESSED AT THE NEXT BUREAU SESSION Prof. Izrael (Russian Federation) asked that at the next session all Bureau members should speak of the future of the IPCC, identifying the scientific issues they believe it must address. He also noted that at the next Bureau session decisions should be made on the future work on Levels of Greenhouse Gases Preventing Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference with the Climate System. Dr Zillman noted that the Bureau must progress Decision 4 of the 18 TH Session of the Panel (the Strategic Decision Framework). NEXT BUREAU MEETING The Secretary reminded the Session that the dates 5-8 August 2002 had been reserved for the next meeting (that would be expected only 2 days). A preference was expressed for the dates 7-8 August, with the session to be conducted in Geneva. The secretariat was asked to finalize with Bureau members the time and location of the next (Twenty-seventh) Bureau session.

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The Session was closed by the Chair at 17.25.